. >>> the governors of new york, new jersey and connecticut, are urging congress to approve a $60 billion aid package for victims of superstorm sandy before they break for the holidays. nearly seven weeks, now, after the storm, many flooded-out residents are waiting for funds to repair their homes. more than 100 ceos are also calling on lawmakers to act quickly. but republicans say the bill is loaded with many things that simply have nothing to do with the storm. >>> well, 18 days, now, and counting. and there are more signs of slow progress being made to avoid that fiscal cliff. president obama and house speaker john boehner met at the white house for less than an hour yesterday. both sides said they had a, quote, frank discussion. and the lines of communication remain open. americans will be hit with automatic tax hikes and budget cuts unless a deal is reached by january 1st. >>> and state governments must decide by today if they will run their own insurance exchanges under the new health care law. those exchanges will serve millions of uninsured americans in under a year, 2014. 19 stat